UNIVERSAL STATEMENTS ENERGY, MATTER & ORGANISATION -BIOMOLECULES Living systems are complex and highly organized, and they require matter and energy to maintain this organization.
Energy is stored in the organization of matter:
The human body stores energy in fats
Living organisms use matter and energy to build and maintain body structures:
Mitochondrion generates ATP from glucose (but does not store energy)
Calcium: builds bones (milk contains calcium that is used by mammals to build bones)
Protein: builds muscle (milk contains protein too)
Living organisms obtain and process matter and energy:
The structure of a molecule always dictates its function:
Biochemistry -- structure of biomolecules affects their functions (carbohydrates and fats made of of C, H and O but have different functions due to their different structures)
The structure and function of biological living systems obeys the laws of thermodynamics: e.g.
Communities of organisms depend on the cycling of matter and the flow of energy
Energy can be lost but not destroyed --> lost as heat energy to surroundings
Energy can change from one form to another
Energy can flow from one organism/system to another --> e.g. eating beef from cow converts to muscle for our bodies
The constant flow of energy and cycling of matter in the biosphere leads to a balanced or steady state:
water cycle: cycle no longer cycle, dirsuption, locked up as pollutants
carbon cycle: not enough plants to take in CO2 trapped in atmosphere
nitrogen cycle
Why is the carbon molecule suitable for life as we know it?
- Carbon has a valency of 4, so it has 4 free electrons to bond with 4 other atoms, and can form double covalent bonds (e.g. fats), hence macromolecules are formed, each with different properties and functions
- Fats: very hard to break down due to the ability of carbon to form double covalent bonds --> good energy storage
- Carbon has the ability to bond with itself --> - backbone of C atoms
Why is the chemistry of water suitable for life?
- Abnormal behaviour at 4 degrees Celsius --> density decreases --> ice floats
- Other properties
What is carbohydrate? Molecular structure? What forms does it take? Functions?
UNIVERSAL STATEMENTS
ENERGY, MATTER & ORGANISATION - BIOMOLECULES
Living systems are complex and highly organized, and they require matter and energy to maintain this organization.
Why is the carbon molecule suitable for life as we know it?
- Carbon has a valency of 4, so it has 4 free electrons to bond with 4 other atoms, and can form double covalent bonds (e.g. fats), hence macromolecules are formed, each with different properties and functions
- Fats: very hard to break down due to the ability of carbon to form double covalent bonds --> good energy storage
- Carbon has the ability to bond with itself --> - backbone of C atoms
Why is the chemistry of water suitable for life?
- Abnormal behaviour at 4 degrees Celsius --> density decreases --> ice floats
- Other properties
What is carbohydrate? Molecular structure? What forms does it take? Functions?